RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Mask-wearing inside most North Carolina state government buildings will become optional starting next Monday through an executive order from Gov. Roy Cooper. Cooper’s order announced on Tuesday applies to his Cabinet-level agencies and other offices that have specifically chosen to participate in the policy.

Cooper attributes the changes to improving COVID-19 numbers and access to vaccinations and other treatments. The new policy still allows agency heads to require masks in high-risk settings. Cooper kept in place a requirement that unvaccinated employees get tested for COVID-19 at least once a week, but those workers will be able to comply by using at-home rapid tests.